Nothing ruins a restful night like unwanted intruders in your bedroom. Bed bugs and their bites can wreak havoc on our mind. Bites do not typically show up right away. The irritation and itchiness on the skin will start to appear slowly. If you’re having troubles with bed bugs, and you’d like advice about treating an infestation and preventing further invasions, hopefully, you’ll find this guide useful.
What exactly are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small parasites, which feed on human blood. You can see them, the adults are about the size of an apple seed and their eggs are around the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen. They are very messy bugs by leaving skin casts and small black marks on mattress cracks and crevices. Bed bugs use a proboscis to pierce the skin and then extract the blood. In most cases, people get bitten during the night. Bed bugs are a very common problem. It is estimated that a fifth of adults in the US has experience of a bed bug infestation.
Symptoms of bed bug bites
Bed bug bites are small red bumps, which can appear on parts of the body. Most commonly, bed bugs bite the areas of skin that are exposed while sleeping. Typically we will see bites on areas such as the arms, hands, face, shoulders, and legs. Most people don’t feel bed bugs biting them. The reality is that bites can show themselves around one to fifteen days after being bitten. The bites will be itchy bumps on the skin. The most common symptoms of bed bug bites include:
- Itchiness
- Swollen skin surrounding the bite
- Redness and skin irritation
- Discomfort
The vast majority of people develop mild symptoms, which don’t require treatment. However, it is possible to experience a more severe reaction. In some cases, complications such as blisters and hives, breathing difficulties, a swollen tongue, and a burning sensation develop. You may also notice signs such as spots of blood on your sheets if you have bed bugs. It is very important to realize that there are many different things that cause bite like symptoms on our skin. Seattle’s Best Pest Detection will find out if bed bugs are causing your bites.
What to do about bed bugs
If you have bed bug bites, it’s a good idea to apply topical creams, such as hydrocortisone, which reduce swelling and pain. Cleaning the wounds can also help to eliminate the risk of infection. In the case of severe symptoms, see your doctor. To tackle a bed bug infestation, wash all bedding at a high temperature, vacuum your home from top to bottom, and consider getting in touch with pest control experts if problems persist. Although bed bugs don’t spread disease, they can make life unbearable, and they can be very dangerous if you have allergies and there’s a risk of an extreme reaction to bites.
How to prevent bed bugs
Prevention is always better the cure when it comes to uninvited pests. To ensure you don’t get any visitors, it’s wise to focus on creating an environment, which doesn’t enable bed bugs to feed and reproduce. Bed bugs tend to hide in cracks and crevices, so fill in seams and holes in your walls, keep clothing and bedding clean, and try and avoid buying secondhand items, which could harbor hidden pests. Examples include luggage, mattresses, furniture, and pillows. Vacuum your home regularly and when staying in hotels or guest houses. Inspect the mattress edges for black marks or dots before sleeping in the bed. If you see black marks it could be bed bug fecal matter. I highly suggest that you find a new room and notify the owner of the room. If you think you may have a bed bug infestation at home, contact us right away.
Bed bugs are widespread problem. If you’ve come across tiny bites on your skin, you may be living with bed bugs. Bites may only cause mild discomfort and irritating itchiness, but nobody wants to share their bed with pests.
Seattle Best Pest Detection is here to solve your bed bug issue. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you.
